Home » Arts Minister Says SA has Lost “Selfless Man” after Steven Otter Killed by Intruders

Arts Minister Says SA has Lost “Selfless Man” after Steven Otter Killed by Intruders

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has extended “deepest sympathies” to the family, friends and colleagues of City of Cape Town Transport Official Steven Otter who was murdered in the early hours of Friday morning. Otter (43) passed away from stab wounds after confronting intruders at around 4am in his new Harfield Village home, which […]

By SAPeople
17-12-16 12:25
in Eish!

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has extended “deepest sympathies” to the family, friends and colleagues of City of Cape Town Transport Official Steven Otter who was murdered in the early hours of Friday morning.

Otter (43) passed away from stab wounds after confronting intruders at around 4am in his new Harfield Village home, which he had only moved into a fortnight before. 

On Saturday morning Minister Mthethwa said: “We are devastated and outraged to learn about the fatal attack which claimed the life of author and former journalist Steven Otter.”

Otter, the communications and community liaison for Cape Town Transport, wrote “Khayelitsha: uMlungu in a Township” chronicling his life in the townships.

The Minister said: “Steven Otter embodied the spirit of non-racialism. Detailing his decision to move to Khayelitsha he said he was embraced with open arms… our nation has lost a selfless man of great character.”

The journalist and politician had lived in iLitha Park in Khayelitsha township for a year in the early 2000s.

Otter had recently moved to Harfield Village, which neighbours Kenilworth and Claremont. The former Argus journalist – who had always cared for those less fortunate than himself – died in his partner Nathalie’s arms. Her 7-year-old daughter was in the house at the time of the break-in. It doesn’t appear that his 6-year-old daughter, with ex-wife Janine Lange, was present.

According to a police spokesman, two intruders were seen leaving the scene with a TV, laptop and cell phone. No arrests have been made.

In a statement from the City of Cape Town, Mayor Patricia de Lille said: “I have known and worked with dear Stevovo for many years and he was truly a one-of-a-kind person whose dedication was certainly one of his greatest traits. He will be sorely missed.”

Many said it was cruelly ironic that a man who did so much for reconciliation was killed so heartlessly on Reconciliation Day.

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